With Father’s Day approaching we wanted to celebrate some of our favourite celebrity vegan dads living an ethical lifestyle and promoting animal welfare.
We’re celebrating the vegan fathers who embody compassion, positivity, and strength, all of which are key elements of parenthood. These 14 famous dads prove that you can still be tough while practicing respect and kindness to all living beings.
1. Sir Paul McCartney
The former lead vocalist of the iconic rock band, The Beatles, McCartney went vegetarian with his late former wife, Linda, decades ago. In the years since, he adopted a vegan diet. McCartney is evidently happy, healthy, and jamming as ever.
2. Woody Harrelson
The Hollywood actor and father of three is considered by many to be the embodiment of positive vegan energy. He’s a key reason why an influx of A-list actors and celebs are going plant-based and sharing their support for it, as well as commending Harrelson for the guidance. From Sadie Sink to Thandie Newtown, Harrelson has inspired many to ditch meat and eat more plant-based.
3. James Cromwell
Cromwell is a famous actor known for his role in the beloved 1995 family film, “Babe.” In fact, Cromwell’s work on this film convinced him to go vegan (how could you not when your co-star is an adorable pig?). The father of three is a passionate animal activist and has spearheaded many efforts in the name of animal rights throughout his time in and out of the spotlight.
4. Travis Barker
Blink-182’s drummer has three children, and he has been vegetarian since the age of 15. He went vegan (and gluten-free) after surviving a plane crash. Barker told Men’s Journal in an interview.“Honestly, ever since I found this way of eating [plant-based] I have endless amounts of energy…I can go all day, and after it all I never find myself getting tired. No matter what kind of shows I have done, or workouts I do on top of it, I still have to force myself to sleep at night.”
5. Jon Stewart
When the former “Daily Show” host appeared in an interview with actor Matt Damon on the talk show “Late Night With Stephen Colbert”, Damon made a comment during the episode that slipped so casually it seemed Stewart’s diet was a given. “Jon’s vegan so he’s got the abs,” said the actor. Stewart’s wife is a strong advocate for animal rights. It’s likely her influence continues to keep Stewart, alongside their two kids, on the plant-based bandwagon.
6. RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA, is The Wu-Tang Clan frontman and a father to 10 children, which has been a theme in many of his raps and songs.
The latest installation of the Star Wars saga, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” included a message of compassion from RZA at its premier screening. Earlier this year, he appeared in a video with international animal rights group PETA to confront audiences about species discrimination. “We are all the same, in all the ways that matter. It doesn’t matter if we have fur or feathers or fins. We’re not different in any important way. We all have thoughts and feelings. We all feel love and pain and loneliness and joy,” he says in the video.
7. Peter Dinklage
In October 2017, Dinklage and his wife welcomed their second child. The actor is best-known for his role as Tyrion Lannister on “Game of Thrones.” Although the pair is notoriously private about their relationship, Dinklage is vocal about animal rights and his longtime vegan diet. “By buying meat, eggs, and dairy products, you’re paying for cruelty. Please make the kind choice.”
8. Chris Smalling
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling went vegan in 2017 and became first-time a dad to in late May. Both the vegan athlete and his wife Sam are passionate vegans who co-authored a book about their lifestyle with meal plans, which is due to publish later this year. Earlier this year, Smalling spoke to Men’s Health about how eating plant-based has improved his recovery time and alleviated his tendinitis. He also promotes kindness toward animals – Smalling added that he’s stopped wearing leather shoes and hopes for a vegan alternative for traditional soccer balls. He’s also worked with international animal rights group PETA on campaigns encouraging veganism.
9. Tony Kanal
Kanal is the father of two young rockers-to-be, following in their dad’s footsteps. He is the bassist for No Doubt, a record producer, and a songwriter, but he is also a dedicated ethical vegan. Kanal openly advocates for animal welfare and the plant-based movementand across his social media platforms. For example, last November, he shared a message to inspire his followers:
“If you don’t already do so, please consider making this holiday weekend the start of leaving animals off your plate. No animal wants to die. Every animal deserves to live their life in peace and free from suffering. The choices we make either contribute to their exploitation or don’t. If you love animals and believe that no being should be oppressed, please give all of them the same justice that you would give your dog or cat. Thank you #Vegan”
10. Stevie Wonder
In an interview the singer, and father of nine, told AOL that he went vegan for environmental reasons. “I’m motivating people to do something about how we’re living on this planet. We have to be about making our planet greener, the urban areas more sustainable for the children. We can’t just talk about it, we have to be about it.”
11. Bryan Adams
The award winning singer-songwriter gave up eating meat and dairy in 1989. He has always been active in campaining for animal rights and is a huge supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “Being sympathetic to animal rights is just something that came very naturally to me. Perhaps because I used to have dogs growing up, and you know they became part of the family. And it never occurred to me growing up … I never put the whole thing of animal cruelty and that together as a youngster. But the moment I began to understand what was going on with the treatment of animals, it led me more and more in the way of the path I am now, which is a complete vegan.”
12. James Cameron
In an interview with PETA, the father of four shared the reason why he turned to veganism. “It’s not a requirement to eat animals, we just choose to do it, so it becomes a moral choice and one that is having a huge impact on the planet, using up resources and destroying the biosphere.”
13. Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire is an American actor and producer best known for his role as Spider-Man. The father of two has been vegetarian since 1992, and transitioned to veganism in 2009. Tobey is said to have inspired a vegan butchery to open in Sydney and doesn’t allow any leather products in his home. Tobey has also campaigned for healthier school lunches, offering more veggie options.
14. Joaquin Phoenix
We couldn’t leave out the Academy Award winning actor after his outspoken acceptance speeches over the awards season! Joaquin Phoenix and his partner Rooney Mara welcomed a baby boy in 2020. Phoenix has long been a social activist and supports a number of humanitarian organisations. He regularly promotes veganism and in 2005 narrated Earthlings, a documentary about humanity’s economic dependence on animals. That’s only one of the long list of films and campaigns he has been involved in!
